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Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Mizuno Wave Encourage 21 Overview | Stability Shoe with a Sky-Excessive Heel Drop


Identified for its reliability as a well-rounded stability shoe possibility in its twenty first model, the Mizuno Wave Encourage clearly has a robust fan base. Right here’s our evaluation.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 OverviewThey are saying a primary impression is all the pieces–I used to be happy with the consolation of each match and really feel as quickly as I put them on, however different points like coloration and design felt a bit of uninteresting to me.

With its mixture of stability and cushion the Wave Encourage has a snug and responsive journey that makes it nice for each day coaching or a future. Off the bat I seen the upper heel drop, so this may not be the steadiness shoe for everybody.

As we’ve famous earlier than a excessive heel drop working shoe will be nice for these with Achilles points or ankle mobility restrictions, however for everybody else it will probably place added stress on the knee. In truth, in our latest spherical up we discovered just a few trainers nonetheless using a 12mm drop.

As a long-time runner however first-time Mizuno wearer, I used to be curious to see how these would stand as much as the check after a blended preliminary impression.

Who’s the  Mizuno Wave Encourage 21 a very good match for? Let’s break it down with some frequent classes:

  • Huge Toes: Although the common has a roomy toebox, the midfoot runs extra slender.
  • Heavier Runners: Good stability and shouldn’t really feel like you’re bottoming out with too comfortable foam.
  • Lengthy Runs: Nice for a future for those who’re on the lookout for stability with out max cushioning.
  • Entrance of the Pack:  Not designed for velocity.

Purchase Mizuno Wave Encourage 21

Very best stability working shoe for those who want a better heel drop and need a each day coach that may decide up the tempo.

Mizuno Wave Encourage 21 Overview

We’ll say off the bat that there are diverse opinions on this shoe amongst testers. It actually comes right down to what YOU need out of your stability shoe and doubtless how your foot matches Mizuno.  In case you preferred the Wave Encourage 20, then excellent news, they’ve stored quite a lot of the important thing items and centered totally on match consolation for the 21. The 20 was an enormous improve of the entire midsole.The mixture of the Mizuno Enerzy foam and the Cloudwave plate makes this shoe very nice on step in, however actually not a comfortable bouncy shoe. It does nevertheless enable it to be a shoe that’s pretty mild for a stability possibility and provides you sufficient power return to choose up the tempo.

The Wave Plate is NOT a carbon plate, that is the expertise they’ve used for years to create the steadiness on this shoe. Whereas others use guiderails, and many others, theirs is designed to assist with that lateral assist with out including weight to the shoe.

The bounce and journey felt just like the Saucony Tempus however with a bit of extra cushioning and assist. You’ll discover that the heel is firmer and the forefoot softer, which is sensible with the steadiness design.

As famous, the plate allowed it to really feel extra responsive and it felt like I had a bit of additional pep in my step when in comparison with different stability sneakers. This might make it a strong possibility for some interval work — whether or not a tempo run or tempo miles in a future.Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 CushionRunners who know they don’t like a better heel drop will not be going to be followers of this shoe. It’s noticeable. You’ll concentrate on the blocky feeling across the heel.

BUT for many who want it, you’re going to get a each day coach that lets you additionally decide up the tempo. In truth, we’d say this stability in all probability shines extra on the times if you end up in an actual rhythm and fewer on the restoration run type of day.

And at last we come to the outsole, which was additionally thoughtfully designed round this wave stability concept.  Sadly, all that rubber comes with a noise. Not likely positive how else to say it, this isn’t the squeak of a Mount to Coast rubber, however only a loud touchdown part.

Mizuno Wave Sky 9 Specs

Purchase Mizuno Wave Encourage 21

Fast Take

Professionals

  • Average cushion feels extra energetic
  • Eco pleasant recycled supplies
  • Steady with the correct amount of cushion and adaptability
Cons

  • Design feels uninteresting
  • Slender mid-foot
  • Excessive heel drop

I discovered these sneakers extra comfy standing round and socializing after run membership than I did really working in them. In truth, it is a shoe I’d simply suggest for an extended day of strolling round the place you want assist.

Mizuno Wave Encourage 21 Match

Regardless of its roomy toe-box, the mid-foot felt tight and restrictive on my foot. I discovered myself adjusting the laces loads to discover a comfy match after which coping with laces coming untied mid-run…which is the worst!

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 LacesThat is the dimensions I put on in most manufacturers and I nonetheless had extra room than I favor on the high of the toe field.

Even with the tight match within the mid-foot, the fabric of the mesh and the tongue are comfortable and sat nicely all through my runs. Bonus factors: Mizuno makes use of eco-friendly recycled supplies.

The heel sat comfortably on the primary try-on and whereas I used to be out chatting with my fellow run-clubbers. However as soon as I received shifting and additional right into a run, I didn’t like how I felt like my heel was shifting round laterally.

Even with the lower than glowing match expertise, the Wave Encourage 21 felt secure with simply the correct amount of cushion and adaptability.

Mizuno Wave Encourage 21 Really feel

For these on the lookout for assist and not using a tremendous stiff or clunky feeling shoe, you’ll need to contemplate taking these for a spin. Initially, I used to be happy with the consolation and match of the shoe.

However, after a couple of runs I seen how my heel was shifting round within the shoe regardless of the shoe feeling safe, if not virtually too tight within the mid-foot.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 SideWith a 12mm drop the Mizuno Wave Encourage 21 positively favors heel-strikers over different stability sneakers. My go-to shoe is the Brooks Glycerin GTS which has a 10mm drop and I seen the distinction right here, with the additional 2 mm feeling like one thing I’d need to regularly regulate to.

General, the texture is responsive and lightweight for a stability shoe. Nice for heel-strikers and over-pronators on the lookout for a much less clunky possibility however one I’d positively attempt to tackle a check spin earlier than committing to see if the match works for you.

Comparable Sneakers to the Mizuno Wave Encourage 21

We’ve examined a couple of that really feel comparable, however totally different primarily based on the model match:

  • Brooks Adrenaline GTS – comparable assist and a easy journey however feels a bit extra clunky than the Wave Encourage.
  • Hoka Arahi – Decrease drop, however comparable cushioning and versatile stability.
  • Nike Pegasus 41 – Average cushion with an analogous drop, whereas not a stability shoe it performs very equally.

Purchase Mizuno Wave Encourage 21

76%

This shoe goes to have a really particular runner who loves it and quite a lot of runners who discover  it’s not for them. In case you want excessive heel drop, stability and need one thing a bit of firmer to choose up the tempo then that is your shoe. Everybody else, checkout our different stability shoe evaluations!

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